Acquire (Verb)
Meaning 1
Come into the possession of something concrete or abstract; "She got a lot of paintings from her uncle"; "They acquired a new pet"; "Get your results the next day"; "Get permission to take a few days off from work".
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- The company plans to acquire a large tract of land to build its new headquarters.
- She hopes to acquire a new language proficiency in the next few years.
- The museum has acquired several rare art pieces through donations and purchases.
- We can acquire the necessary materials at the hardware store.
- The student will acquire her degree after completing the required thesis and defense.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
- Enter Upon
- Catch
- Pull In
- Collect
- Lease
- Pick Up
- Partake In
- Recover
- Clear
- Obtain
- Gather Up
- Win Back
- Charter
- Acquire
- Regain
- Inherit
- Recuperate
- Isolate
- Come By
- Accept
- Engage
- Come Up
- Extract
- Have
- Profit
- Gain
- Poll
- Earn
- Borrow
- Realize
- Make
- Partake
- Capture
- Win
- Preempt
- Reclaim
- Receive
- Hire
- Turn
- Glom
- Line Up
- Realise
- Press Out
- Bring In
- Call For
- Find
- Buy
- Get
- Luck Into
- Benefit
- Take
Related Words
Meaning 2
Gain knowledge or skills; "She learned dancing from her sister"; "I learned Sanskrit"; "Children acquire language at an amazing rate".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- Youths acquire various skills through vocational training programs.
- Dancers typically acquire flexibility and endurance through years of practice.
- The team acquire expertise in the latest technology to improve their designs.
- Researchers believe that infants acquire most of their vocabulary within the first three years of life.
- Professional football players often acquire certain techniques from their experienced coaches.
Synonyms
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Related Words
Meaning 3
Gain through experience; "I acquired a strong aversion to television"; "Children must develop a sense of right and wrong"; "Dave developed leadership qualities in his new position"; "develop a passion for painting".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- As she traveled to different countries, she acquired a deep appreciation for various cultural norms.
- He acquired valuable problem-solving skills after interning at a renowned tech firm for a year.
- She acquired a strong affinity for hiking and rock climbing during her time in the mountains.
- The entrepreneur acquired a keen sense of business acumen after years of trial and error.
- Through her volunteer work, she acquired a deeper understanding of social justice issues.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
Take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect; "His voice took on a sad tone"; "The story took a new turn"; "he adopted an air of superiority"; "She assumed strange manners"; "The gods assume human or animal form in these fables".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The artist's paintings acquire a mystical aura when displayed under dim lighting.
- As she matured, her personality began to acquire a sense of confidence and assertiveness.
- His voice started to acquire a raspy quality after years of heavy smoking.
- Over time, the innovative company will acquire new technologies through various partnerships.
- The character in the novel gradually acquires the wisdom and poise of an experienced leader.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 5
Come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes); "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body"; "Well-developed breasts".
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- The model acquired a more lifelike appearance after several rounds of beta testing.
- As the child grew older, he began to acquire broader shoulders and a more muscular build.
- Over time, she acquired a thick layer of scar tissue on her knees from years of playing sports.
- The patient started to acquire some unusual symptoms, such as discoloration of the skin, that needed further examination.
- After being outdoors for an extended period, she began to acquire a noticeable tan on her arms and face.
Synonyms
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Meaning 6
Win something through one's efforts; "I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese"; "Gain an understanding of international finance"; "win someone's confidence and friendship".
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- Through her hard work, she acquired a prestigious scholarship to study abroad.
- He acquired the trust of his colleagues by consistently delivering high-quality results on time.
- By completing an internship, I acquired a deeper understanding of the company's operations and culture.
- She acquired the loyalty of her team members by being a supportive and fair leader.
- After months of working together, I finally acquired the confidence of our new investor.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 7
Locate (a moving entity) by means of a tracking system such as radar.
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- The radar system will acquire the position of the approaching aircraft within seconds.
- The new software will enable us to acquire and track multiple targets simultaneously.
- It took several minutes for the satellite to acquire a lock on the moving vehicle.
- Air traffic control will acquire the helicopters as they approach the restricted airspace.
- The defense system failed to acquire the incoming missile due to a technical malfunction.